Aghhh. Feels good doesn’t it. Those last few minutes were as nervous as I’ve felt this season, but a string of fine saves from Karl Darlow and a big effort from first minute to last has handed us a well deserved win today – and the perfect start to 2018.
The win propels us up to 13th and sees us end the ‘festive period’ with 7 points from a possible 12 – a very good return when you think one of those was against City. Certainly lifts the negative mood that was lingering around St James’ Park just 48 hours ago following our concerning stalemate with Brighton!
Now to the game. There were questions over Rafa’s decision to go without a natural striker, but playing Perez in a false 9 role with Atsu, Ritchie and Murphy in and around him worked well. A woeful Stoke defence struggled to pick them up and we could and should have been two up at the break.
It wasn’t to be, but the signs were there and thankfully we got what we deserved in the second half. Murphy had a real go in the second and got his rewards, putting in a perfectly weighted cross for Perez to poke home.
The last 10 minutes were horrible to watch as a fan, with us all knowing the importance of wins in this league (a point in the circumstances would’ve been a crushing blow) and Stoke whipping balls into the 6ft 9′ Peter Crouch, but a combination of putting bodies on the line and a couple of superb Karl Darlow saves saw us get over the line.
That @KarlDarlow save though… pic.twitter.com/zg2EedY3ni
— David Moat (@DavidMoat) January 1, 2018
A huge win and a brilliant performance. As we’ve come to expect this season, the quality wasn’t always there (a better side may have been out of sight at half time), but we did not lack energy, heart and ideas.
The likes of Darlow, Diame, Perez, Clark, Shelvey and Murphy have been criticised in recent weeks but they were all brilliant today – as was captain fantastic Jamaal Lascelles who continues to offer a monstrous presence at the back for us.
The perfect start to a huge year ahead for our beloved club and a win that sets us up well for a home double-header with Luton in the Cup and Swansea in the league in two weeks.
Get in!
NUFC XI – (4-2-3-1): Darlow – Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Manquillo – Shelvey, Diame – Atsu, Ritchie, Murphy – Perez (SUBS – Woodman, Dummett, Haidara, Hayden, Merino, Gayle, Joselu).
Stu, the takeover rumor sounds so true to me. If it turns out to be true, Rafa will have some money to spend, and relegation is out of the question.
funrafa(Quote)
20 of our 22 points have come from teams below us. We only have Palace (a), Bournemouth (a), WBA (h), Southampton (h) and Swansea (h) left from teams below us. Three at home ?
Stuart79(Quote)
i see that mate,i think its about done imo
icedog(Quote)
Is your source reliable?
funrafa(Quote)
4 wins and a couple of draws will see us home imo
icedog(Quote)
West ham win then
kimtoon(Quote)
Hudders make their first signing,a C/H
icedog(Quote)
Nowt we can do about other teams.
We know what we need to do and we still have plenty of games to do it in.
Swansea never really threatened Spurs at all tonight. We beat them and it’s 7pts from a possible 9 – and a run of 3 unbeaten games.
Thereafter 5 wins from 15 games. That’s what we have to do, then we see how things stand when all balls have been kicked
Sharpy17(Quote)
David Pick
@davidpick1987
·
33m
The interesting bit on Staveleys company from today is its registered under SIC code 64999. That’s a company that is a financial intermediary. So, could be used as a parent company.
kimtoon(Quote)
Yup .. they also say it’ll be announced Saturday. Not long to wait to see if it’s BS
GlosMag(Quote)
Andre Grey has gone cold at Watford. Thays the danger. Some clubs are just a perfect marriage for players – then they attract big price tags, move and tuen out to be unable to adapt to a new system.
If I were a manager I dont think I would make any expensive signings of players that have only ever played well at one club. I’d want to k ow they are adaptable.
shamrock(Quote)
Twitter going into overdrive regards Amanda Stavely setting up a company. It could be to wash cars for all we know.
Stuart79(Quote)
Conte has confirmed Batshuyi can leave…
Stuart79(Quote)
Apparently it’s the first company she’s set up since the City deal Stu. So it’s not run of the mill stuff .
kimtoon(Quote)
Fingers crossed. Hoping it all goes well.
On a totally different point, you had mentioned 17 before… Ayoze scored his goal 17 minutes from the end of the match and he wears no 17…spooky. ?.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
oh my, funny thing numbers mate. Still wondering if the deal is already done and if it was done on the 17th dec ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Get him, get him, get him!!!!!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/01/03/five-reasons-why-january-is-one-of-the-biggest-months-is-nufcs-history/
Simon looks ahead to a huge month for NUFC
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
funrafa(Quote)